NATURAL-KILLER AND T-CELLS OF INNATE AND ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY - LYMPHOIDCOMPARTMENTS WITH DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMON GAMMA-CHAIN-DEPENDENT CYTOKINES

A group of cytokines, including interleukin-2, -4, -7, -9 and -15, are related through the usage of a shared receptor subunit, the common cy tokine receptor gamma chain, gamma(c). gamma(c)-dependent cytokines cr itically affect the development and maintenance of the lymphoid system . This review will highlight our current knowledge on the gamma(c)-dep endent cytokine network and on the non-redundant roles that these cyto kines play in the development and homeostasis of T and natural killer cells involved in innate and adaptive immunity.